Dia Mirza fined by Customs for duty evasion

Mumbai: In the latest incident of duty evasions by the actors, the custom officials fined actor Dia Mirza a sum of Rs 1.25 lakh at the Mumbai International Airport on Saturday. The penalty was imposed on the actor for carrying undeclared goods while returning returning from Bangkok. She was let off after paying the fine.

Mirza was carrying undeclared items worth Rs 2 lakh upon her arrival at Mumbai airport, a senior Customs official said.

The actor landed at the airport at around 2 am from Bangkok by a Thai Airways flight.

The actor said she was not aware of Customs rule about dutiable goods. She was allowed to go after paying the fine.

"She was passing through the green channel (used by passengers not having any dutiable goods to declare) when she was stopped and asked to show her baggage," he said.

During checking, the actor was found carrying undeclared items like branded purses and cosmetics worth Rs 2 lakh. This amounted to duty evasion, the official added.

Mirza was asked to pay a fine of over Rs 1 lakh. She was allowed to go after she paid the amount, he said.

The 30-year-old model-turned-actress claimed she was not aware of Customs rules about dutiable goods and did not intend to evade duty, the official added.

Mirza is the latest film personality to land in trouble over declaration of dutiable goods. Last year Bipasha Basu and Minissha Lamba, among other film and television personalties, were detained at the airport after they were found carrying undeclared goods.